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Posts Tagged ‘Website Design’

Abomination! Facebook and Twitter Fail To Drive Traffic

Written by Joel
Wednesday, 11 May 2011 13:00
No Comments

Here’s a story Facebook won’t “like”.  A recent study by outbrain.com suggests that social media doesn’t drive website traffic as well as traditional mediums.  The study, which looked at traffic patterns from 100 million sessions across more than 100 premium publishers revealed that on average, direct, in-site and unknown traffic sources account for the 67% of website traffic while social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can only account for 11%.  Numbers like these are making senior executives curious and online media and marketing firms nervous.

Social media has long been lauded as the new darling of modern marketing and the growth rates of Facebook and Twitter continue to climb exponentially.  The internet is awash with urban legends of tiny start ups who continue to make millions from their “likes” and “tweets” and the fever has turned into a modern day gold rush.  Everyone it seems, is trying to stake their online claim.  Unfortunately, many aren’t finding the golden nuggets once promised and more are wondering why their social media strategy isn’t working as advertised.

The problem is that people aren’t logging in to Facebook or Twitter to shop, they are logging in to check up on friends and family.  Most enjoy the occasional posted pictures and others occasionally debate someone’s obnoxious post, but no one logs in to find an attorney, chiropractor or mortgage lender.  Facebook and Twitter are supposed to be an escape from those things, not a doorway to more of them.  Is anyone really surprised?  For those consumers who actually click on Facebook banner ads, the results are horrible for those trying to sell.

The outbrain study shows that website traffic from social media sites are among the worst.  On average the bounce rates is higher and the page views the lowest.  Even if Facebook and Twitter is driving traffic to your door, statistically it’s not the kind of traffic you need.  For many, there are better ways to spend that marketing budget.

A well designed website, with a great user experience, original content and keyword rich context still trumps referral traffic from Facebook and Twitter. Conversion rates are higher when someone is looking for your exact product or service, versus throwing products and services at people who aren’t looking for them.

Facebook and Twitter are great tools to drive awareness which is key to any marketing strategy, but it’s just one part of a well designed marketing plan.   Awareness, interest, evaluation and commitment need to be well organized to drive the right kind of traffic.  A combination of these elements is even better.  When implemented correctly, a great online media and marketing plan increases sales and leads the way to a healthier bottom line.  Now that’s something everyone will “like.”

*This article  was picked up and published by Technorati.com

 

Does Your Mother Know You Made That Website?

Written by Joel
Tuesday, 19 April 2011 10:45
No Comments

Every time I get online I am bombarded with ads for various website builders. According to these ads anyone can design a website easily and within minutes. With the simplicity of a website builder, who needs a website designer anymore?

Of course, things aren’t always as easy as they seem. A custom designed website isn’t the same as a cookie cutter website that comes straight from the box. Let’s look at a few of the reasons why professional website design is still important.

Your mother might have said that looks don’t matter, but when it comes down to it we all know that they really do. Think about it… If you needed a lawyer would you be more likely to hire the lawyer with a wrinkled skirt, frizzy orange hair, pink lipstick and mismatched earrings or the beautiful lawyer with professional looking hair and makeup? If we use our eyes to make decisions in other aspects of our lives doesn’t it make sense that your website visitors will be doing the same thing when deciding whether or not to stay at your site? If you want to compete with the thousands of websites out there you need an attractive website and the best way to guarantee this is to hire a professional that knows what looks good and knows what sells.

A few weeks back I went to a website that looked professional on the outside, but when it came down to it there were a few problems. Some of the links were broken and others didn’t direct me to the right areas on the site. After only a few minutes I gave up and went somewhere else. Whether your site specializes in information, selling items or something else it is critical that it works properly. Your site represents your company and having a poorly functioning site is no different than having an employee that is rude to your customers. A professional web designer will help you to ensure that your website is working properly and that it properly represents your company.

I also enjoy visiting websites that have interesting technological features. When I go to WebMD I love using the symptom checker and when I visit CNN.com I enjoy the video feeds. While these are examples of high end websites and complex features, they do illustrate how a website can be more interesting when it offers something special. A template isn’t going to be able to provide this for you. A web designer can use their expertise to help you create a unique and interesting site that truly offers your visitors something special. This will keep them coming back and will get people to refer their friends. If your site is created using a website builder and is just like the thousands of other sites that used the same method of website design you aren’t going to stand out or be anything special.

When it comes down to it anyone can design a website, but maybe everyone shouldn’t. A child can use watercolors, but it just isn’t the same as a beautiful painting done by a professional. If you want professional results, trust a web design professional.

Jacqueline Rosser is a guest contributor to the MediaShark blog.  She is a technical and IT writer from California.

 

 

Four Design Elements Of The Best Websites

Written by Joel
Tuesday, 12 April 2011 12:48
No Comments

This website design hurts my soul.

We spend a huge amount of time here at MediaShark looking and evaluating web pages.  While a well designed website pops up from time to time, there are plenty that are, well, they are just plain ugly.  Here are a few tips for designing your best bet web page.

1. What is your purpose?

Are you an information website or are you trying to sell a product or service?  Most businesses are trying to do both, and that can be fine line to walk.  Since you have 10 seconds to keep a visitor you need to make the sites purpose clear, concise and clutter free.

2. Design your site to look professional.

You don’t need to be a webmaster to put together one of the best websites in your market.  One of the hardest things to remember is that less is best.  A lot of companies try to give you all of the information in the home page.  Keep it simple, state what you are upfront.

3. Keep your fonts and colors to a minimum.

Have you ever been to a site that looks like a kaleidoscope?   It can make you dizzy, and having someone get sick while looking at your website is never a good thing.  Keep your company website consistent and simple.  Keep coloring and fonts consistent and try to remember that black on white lettering is often the cleanest way to go.

4. Have a call to action button

This is the one that most websites look.  Are you selling a product or service?  Make it easy to buy those immediately.  By using a call to action button you can save a visitor the headache of digging through web pages to try your product.  The call to action button should be “above the fold”

When it comes to designing a clean company website keep these four elements in mind.  It will certainly aid you in becoming a successful website.